By TINA TIMOTHY

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tasked political parties and the National Assembly (NASS) to ensure greater representation of women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the charge on Friday, March 8, as the commission joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said: "Today is International Women’s Day. As an equal opportunity employer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is delighted to join the rest of the world to celebrate this auspicious occasion not in a symbolic way but as a practical affirmation of our commitment to deepening gender equality, representation, relevance, empowerment and a sense of belonging."

Noting that the main theme of this year’s celebration is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” while the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion”, Prof. Yakubu said inclusion, in particular, has been a focal area of INEC’s commitment covering gender, youths and persons with disability, adding that INEC has "been dutifully implementing the gender policy in a practical way."

Continuing, he said: "The main theme of this year’s celebration is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” while the campaign theme is “Inspire Inclusion”. Inclusion, in particular, has been a focal area of our commitment covering gender, youths and persons with disability. For this reason, the Commission has since developed and validated its gender policy with the full support of all stakeholders. We have also been dutifully implementing the gender policy in a practical way."

According to Yakubu, it is not by coincidence that the two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women, adding that the present Commission deliberately created a whole Department of Gender and Inclusivity in 2021 dedicated to the promotion of inclusive representation in the workplace and the electoral process.

"It is not by coincidence that the two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women. Furthermore, the present Commission deliberately created a whole Department of Gender and Inclusivity in 2021 dedicated to the promotion of inclusive representation in the workplace and the electoral process.

"Today, out of 24 Departments and Directorates at the Commission’s Headquarters, 11 (representing 46%) are headed by women. We also have women serving as Administrative Secretaries in our State offices and Heads of various Departments at State level. There is also no State in Nigeria without women serving as Electoral Officers (EOs) in charge of our Local Government Offices.

"In addition to Departmental and other responsibilities, the Commission has also built and equipped a Crèche for the convenience of staff of all categories who are nursing mothers. By coincidence, the Crèche will be commissioned shortly as part of the activities for this year’s International Women’s Day. Our intention is to extend such facility to our state offices as funds permit."

He further said the Commission is not only aware of the concerns raised by Nigerians about the low level of gender representation in elective positions nationwide, but also shares the same concern and will subsequently go further to "engage with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters on this and other areas of reform."

"However, the Commission is aware of the concern raised by Nigerians about the low level of gender representation in elective positions nationwide. The Commission shares this concern and we have consistently been urging political parties to redress the obvious under-representation of women, youths and persons with disability by nominating more of them as candidates for elections.

"To accelerate progress in this regard, I will go as far as calling on the National Assembly to introduce affirmative action as part of the electoral reforms that will ensure greater representation of women, youths and persons with disability in elective offices nationwide.

"In the weeks ahead, the Commission will engage with the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters on this and other areas of reform," Yakubu said.

The INEC Chairman also appreciated the Director, The Electoral Hub Princess Hamman-Obels, for collaborating with the Commission in many areas, including the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day.

"On this note, I would like to thank The Electoral Hub and, in particular, its Director, Princess Hamman-Obels, for collaborating with the Commission in many areas, including the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day," Yakubu said.

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